keeganhennis

I appreciate @Malcolm Crowe Answering my post, but to be clear, there was a misunderstanding. "Visibility states" in dynamic blocks is like making each block a functional device. imagine the block is a bundled stack of transparency sheets for an overhead projector (I know, I'm old). Each slide of the packet is a visibility state, or a set of the drawing objects configured to display per the user's settings. You can set some linework to be visible on some states and not others, or on all states, as needed. You can create different variations of a fixture, for example, one with with a 120v plug, another with a 240v plug, one with a 3-phase plug, etc. Each of these models exists simultaneously on the block, but you select from a dropdown list which version of the block you want to display for that instance. It's helpful in my job as a lighting system drafter. We have versions in colors, and with functional differences, each enclosed in the same fixture block. We select which one we need at that location, and another for another location, etc. It's another way to contain optional information all in the same block object. This is all independent from the layers of the drawing and selecting which one is visible at any given moment. In a house drawing set, one could have a single block for tree shapes, simply selecting which tree variant from the list with every separate instance of the block. Or one could make a block for different list items, blocks of text such as custom consultant addresses that you don't wan to keep entering every time. As well, you can place in the blocks sections of text defined as "attributes" instead of text, and this will let you assign different device names or colors as small bits of text in the block, and editing the text of the attribute in one block does not affect the other instances of that block in the drawing. And editing the attributes in the block can be done in a simple edit dialog window instead of opening the block in the block editor screen each time you need to. Unfortunately if IRONCAD doesn't allow me to use or manipulate dynamic blocks, i may have to look somewhere else. this one is my hard stop on which features i need. Draftsite suite has dynamic blocks, but it's double the price of ironcad, with an annual renewal price. i was hoping to spend less. I guess if there's no other option for a combined 2d+3d suite, and dynamic blocks...

I appreciate @SSIMMONS attempting to answer ease my concerns, but respectfully, there are specifics I need to know. I was almost set on buying a different suite, until I learned in their handbook that it can't in fact create dynamic blocks, though it can display them. Not sure the reasoning why that functionality would work, but oh well. I need my suite to seemlessly do 2d/3d drafting design, solid modeling, and definitely have the ability to CREATE and modify dynamic blocks like autocad.

I do several (many) custom things in AutoCAD that some cad programs just don't support. Since Autodesk has decided to jump on the stupid Subscription model for their software, my company has decided to change their drafting products to something else. And since I am one of the drafters I am considering other options for my personal machine. I don't have unlimited funding, so I would like to get the most bang for my buck. The suite my company is leaning toward is still more than my budget, So I am looking at the market to see what offerings are out there. But the product pages only show so much information. I need to know some things before I drop hundreds or thousands of moneys on something that may or may not work for me, and i'd rather not clutter up my workstation all the dozens of trial software available if it again doesn't do what i need. Does IRONCAD allow user to create dynamic blocks with visibility states? Does it allow me to work with 2D and 3D tools? does it allow me to use boolean operations on solids? does it allow wipeout frames? does it allow classic view instead of the new stupid "ribbon" that so many programs are moving toward? I'm also looking for a program that exports solid shapes to STL format, for use in 3D printers. I use autocad for 2d house-plans, and for 3d modeling and rendering of CG imagery. And the last thing I am looking for is a Buy-it-once pricing model, not the subscription model other companies are bumbling into like lemmings.